| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| vade | verb i. | To fade; hence, to vanish. |
| vail | noun & verb t. | Same as Veil., Avails; profit; return; proceeds., An unexpected gain or acquisition; a casual advantage or benefit; a windfall., Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; — usually in the plural., To let fail; to allow or cause to sink., To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like., To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like., Submission; decline; descent. |
| vain | superl. | Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying., Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt., Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; having a high opinion of one’s own accomplishments with slight reason; conceited; puffed up; inflated., Showy; ostentatious., Vanity; emptiness; — now used only in the phrase in vain. |
| vair | noun | The skin of the squirrel, much used in the fourteenth century as fur for garments, and frequently mentioned by writers of that period in describing the costly dresses of kings, nobles, and prelates. It is represented in heraldry by a series of small shields placed close together, and alternately white and blue. |
| vale | noun | A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley., See 2d Vail, 3. |
| vamp | verb i. | To advance; to travel., The part of a boot or shoe above the sole and welt, and in front of the ankle seam; an upper., Any piece added to an old thing to give it a new appearance. See Vamp, v. t., To provide, as a shoe, with new upper leather; hence, to piece, as any old thing, with a new part; to repair; to patch; — often followed by up. |
| vane | noun | A contrivance attached to some elevated object for the purpose of showing which way the wind blows; a weathercock. It is usually a plate or strip of metal, or slip of wood, often cut into some fanciful form, and placed upon a perpendicular axis around which it moves freely., Any flat, extended surface attached to an axis and moved by the wind; as, the vane of a windmill; hence, a similar fixture of any form moved in or by water, air, or other fluid; as, the vane of a screw propeller, a fan blower, an anemometer, etc., The rhachis and web of a feather taken together., One of the sights of a compass, quadrant, etc. |
| vang | noun | A rope to steady the peak of a gaff. |
| vant | verb i. | See Vaunt. |
| vara | noun | A Spanish measure of length equal to about one yard. The vara now in use equals 33.385 inches. |
| vare | noun | A wand or staff of authority or justice., A weasel. |
| vari | noun | The ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta) of Madagascar. Its long tail is annulated with black and white. |
| vark | noun | The bush hog, or boshvark. |
| vary | verb t. | To change the aspect of; to alter in form, appearance, substance, position, or the like; to make different by a partial change; to modify; as, to vary the properties, proportions, or nature of a thing; to vary a posture or an attitude; to vary one’s dress or opinions., To change to something else; to transmute; to exchange; to alternate., To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate., To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See Variation, 4., To alter, or be altered, in any manner; to suffer a partial change; to become different; to be modified; as, colors vary in different lights., To differ, or be different; to be unlike or diverse; as, the laws of France vary from those of England., To alter or change in succession; to alternate; as, one mathematical quantity varies inversely as another., To deviate; to depart; to swerve; — followed by from; as, to vary from the law, or from reason., To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension; as, men vary in opinion., Alteration; change. |
| vasa | plural | of Vas |
| vase | noun | A vessel adapted for various domestic purposes, and anciently for sacrificial uses; especially, a vessel of antique or elegant pattern used for ornament; as, a porcelain vase; a gold vase; a Grecian vase. See Illust. of Portland vase, under Portland., A vessel similar to that described in the first definition above, or the representation of one in a solid block of stone, or the like, used for an ornament, as on a terrace or in a garden. See Illust. of Niche., The body, or naked ground, of the Corinthian and Composite capital; — called also tambour, and drum., The calyx of a plant. |
| vast | superl. | Waste; desert; desolate; lonely., Of great extent; very spacious or large; also, huge in bulk; immense; enormous; as, the vast ocean; vast mountains; the vast empire of Russia., Very great in numbers, quantity, or amount; as, a vast army; a vast sum of money., Very great in importance; as, a subject of vast concern., A waste region; boundless space; immensity. |
| vaut | verb i. | To vault; to leap., A vault; a leap. |
| veal | noun | The flesh of a calf when killed and used for food. |
| veda | noun | The ancient sacred literature of the Hindus; also, one of the four collections, called Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, constituting the most ancient portions of that literature. |
| veer | verb i. | To change direction; to turn; to shift; as, wind veers to the west or north., To direct to a different course; to turn; to wear; as, to veer, or wear, a vessel. |
| vega | noun | A brilliant star of the first magnitude, the brightest of those constituting the constellation Lyra. |
| veil | noun | Something hung up, or spread out, to intercept the view, and hide an object; a cover; a curtain; esp., a screen, usually of gauze, crape, or similar diaphnous material, to hide or protect the face., A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense., The calyptra of mosses., A membrane connecting the margin of the pileus of a mushroom with the stalk; — called also velum., A covering for a person or thing; as, a nun’s veil; a paten veil; an altar veil., Same as Velum, 3., To throw a veil over; to cover with a veil., Fig.: To invest; to cover; to hide; to conceal. |
| vein | noun | One of the vessels which carry blood, either venous or arterial, to the heart. See Artery, 2., One of the similar branches of the framework of a leaf., One of the ribs or nervures of the wings of insects. See Venation., A narrow mass of rock intersecting other rocks, and filling inclined or vertical fissures not corresponding with the stratification; a lode; a dike; — often limited, in the language of miners, to a mineral vein or lode, that is, to a vein which contains useful minerals or ores., A fissure, cleft, or cavity, as in the earth or other substance., A streak or wave of different color, appearing in wood, and in marble and other stones; variegation., A train of association, thoughts, emotions, or the like; a current; a course., Peculiar temper or temperament; tendency or turn of mind; a particular disposition or cast of genius; humor; strain; quality; also, manner of speech or action; as, a rich vein of humor; a satirical vein., To form or mark with veins; to fill or cover with veins. |
| vele | noun | A veil. |
| vell | noun | The salted stomach of a calf, used in making cheese; a rennet bag., To cut the turf from, as for burning. |
| vela | plural | of Velum |
| vena | noun | A vein. |
| vend | verb t. | To transfer to another person for a pecuniary equivalent; to make an object of trade; to dispose of by sale; to sell; as, to vend goods; to vend vegetables., The act of vending or selling; a sale., The total sales of coal from a colliery. |
| vent | noun | Sale; opportunity to sell; market., To sell; to vend., A baiting place; an inn., To snuff; to breathe or puff out; to snort., A small aperture; a hole or passage for air or any fluid to escape; as, the vent of a cask; the vent of a mold; a volcanic vent., The anal opening of certain invertebrates and fishes; also, the external cloacal opening of reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes., The opening at the breech of a firearm, through which fire is communicated to the powder of the charge; touchhole., Sectional area of the passage for gases divided by the length of the same passage in feet., Fig.: Opportunity of escape or passage from confinement or privacy; outlet., Emission; escape; passage to notice or expression; publication; utterance., To let out at a vent, or small aperture; to give passage or outlet to., To suffer to escape from confinement; to let out; to utter; to pour forth; as, to vent passion or complaint., To utter; to report; to publish., To scent, as a hound., To furnish with a vent; to make a vent in; as, to vent. a mold. |
| verb | noun | A word; a vocable., A word which affirms or predicates something of some person or thing; a part of speech expressing being, action, or the suffering of action. |
| verd | noun | The privilege of cutting green wood within a forest for fuel., The right of pasturing animals in a forest., Greenness; freshness. |
| vers | noun sing. & pl. | A verse or verses. See Verse. |
| vert | noun | Everything that grows, and bears a green leaf, within the forest; as, to preserve vert and venison is the duty of the verderer., The right or privilege of cutting growing wood., The color green, represented in a drawing or engraving by parallel lines sloping downward toward the right. |
| very | verb t. | True; real; actual; veritable., In a high degree; to no small extent; exceedingly; excessively; extremely; as, a very great mountain; a very bright sum; a very cold day; the river flows very rapidly; he was very much hurt. |
| vese | noun | Onset; rush; violent draught or wind. |
| vest | noun | An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe., Any outer covering; array; garb., Specifically, a waistcoat, or sleeveless body garment, for men, worn under the coat., To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely., To clothe with authority, power, or the like; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; — followed by with before the thing conferred; as, to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death., To place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; to commit to another; — with in before the possessor; as, the power of life and death is vested in the king, or in the courts., To invest; to put; as, to vest money in goods, land, or houses., To clothe with possession; as, to vest a person with an estate; also, to give a person an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of; as, an estate is vested in possession., To come or descend; to be fixed; to take effect, as a title or right; — followed by in; as, upon the death of the ancestor, the estate, or the right to the estate, vests in the heir at law. |
| veto | noun | An authoritative prohibition or negative; a forbidding; an interdiction., A power or right possessed by one department of government to forbid or prohibit the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; especially, in a constitutional government, a power vested in the chief executive to prevent the enactment of measures passed by the legislature. Such a power may be absolute, as in the case of the Tribunes of the People in ancient Rome, or limited, as in the case of the President of the United States. Called also the veto power., The exercise of such authority; an act of prohibition or prevention; as, a veto is probable if the bill passes., A document or message communicating the reasons of the executive for not officially approving a proposed law; — called also veto message., To prohibit; to negative; also, to refuse assent to, as a legislative bill, and thus prevent its enactment; as, to veto an appropriation bill. |
| vial | noun | A small bottle, usually of glass; a little glass vessel with a narrow aperture intended to be closed with a stopper; as, a vial of medicine., To put in a vial or vials. |
| vice | noun | A defect; a fault; an error; a blemish; an imperfection; as, the vices of a political constitution; the vices of a horse., A moral fault or failing; especially, immoral conduct or habit, as in the indulgence of degrading appetites; customary deviation in a single respect, or in general, from a right standard, implying a defect of natural character, or the result of training and habits; a harmful custom; immorality; depravity; wickedness; as, a life of vice; the vice of intemperance., The buffoon of the old English moralities, or moral dramas, having the name sometimes of one vice, sometimes of another, or of Vice itself; — called also Iniquity., A kind of instrument for holding work, as in filing. Same as Vise., A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements., A gripe or grasp., To hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice., In the place of; in the stead; as, A. B. was appointed postmaster vice C. D. resigned., Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul, etc. |
| vide | imperative sing. of L. videre, to see; — used to direct attention to something; as, vide supra, see above. | |
| vied | imp. & past participle | of Vie |
| view | noun | The act of seeing or beholding; sight; look; survey; examination by the eye; inspection., Mental survey; intellectual perception or examination; as, a just view of the arguments or facts in a case., Power of seeing, either physically or mentally; reach or range of sight; extent of prospect., That which is seen or beheld; sight presented to the natural or intellectual eye; scene; prospect; as, the view from a window., The pictorial representation of a scene; a sketch, /ither drawn or painted; as, a fine view of Lake George., Mode of looking at anything; manner of apprehension; conception; opinion; judgment; as, to state one’s views of the policy which ought to be pursued., That which is looked towards, or kept in sight, as object, aim, intention, purpose, design; as, he did it with a view of escaping., Appearance; show; aspect., To see; to behold; especially, to look at with attention, or for the purpose of examining; to examine with the eye; to inspect; to explore., To survey or examine mentally; to consider; as, to view the subject in all its aspects. |
| vild | adjective | Vile. |
| vile | superl. | Low; base; worthless; mean; despicable., Morally base or impure; depraved by sin; hateful; in the sight of God and men; sinful; wicked; bad. |
| vill | noun | A small collection of houses; a village. |
| vine | noun | Any woody climbing plant which bears grapes., Hence, a climbing or trailing plant; the long, slender stem of any plant that trails on the ground, or climbs by winding round a fixed object, or by seizing anything with its tendrils, or claspers; a creeper; as, the hop vine; the bean vine; the vines of melons, squashes, pumpkins, and other cucurbitaceous plants. |
| viny | adjective | Of or pertaining to vines; producing, or abounding in, vines. |
| viol | noun | A stringed musical instrument formerly in use, of the same form as the violin, but larger, and having six strings, to be struck with a bow, and the neck furnished with frets for stopping the strings., A large rope sometimes used in weighing anchor. |
| vire | noun | An arrow, having a rotary motion, formerly used with the crossbow. Cf. Vireton. |
| visa | noun | See Vis/., To indorse, after examination, with the word vise, as a passport; to vise. |
| vise | noun | An instrument consisting of two jaws, closing by a screw, lever, cam, or the like, for holding work, as in filing., An indorsement made on a passport by the proper authorities of certain countries on the continent of Europe, denoting that it has been examined, and that the person who bears it is permitted to proceed on his journey; a visa., To examine and indorse, as a passport; to visa. |
| vive | Long live, that is, success to; as, vive le roi, long live the king; vive la bagatelle, success to trifles or sport., Lively; animated; forcible. | |
| void | adjective | Containing nothing; empty; vacant; not occupied; not filled., Having no incumbent; unoccupied; — said of offices and the like., Being without; destitute; free; wanting; devoid; as, void of learning, or of common use., Not producing any effect; ineffectual; vain., Containing no immaterial quality; destitute of mind or soul., Of no legal force or effect, incapable of confirmation or ratification; null. Cf. Voidable, 2., An empty space; a vacuum., To remove the contents of; to make or leave vacant or empty; to quit; to leave; as, to void a table., To throw or send out; to evacuate; to emit; to discharge; as, to void excrements., To render void; to make to be of no validity or effect; to vacate; to annul; to nullify., To be emitted or evacuated. |
| vole | noun | A deal at cards that draws all the tricks., To win all the tricks by a vole., Any one of numerous species of micelike rodents belonging to Arvicola and allied genera of the subfamily Arvicolinae. They have a thick head, short ears, and a short hairy tail. |
| volt | noun | A circular tread; a gait by which a horse going sideways round a center makes two concentric tracks., A sudden movement to avoid a thrust., The unit of electro-motive force; — defined by the International Electrical Congress in 1893 and by United States Statute as, that electro-motive force which steadily applied to a conductor whose resistance is one ohm will produce a current of one ampere. It is practically equivalent to / the electro-motive force of a standard Clark’s cell at a temperature of 15ยก C. |
| vote | noun | An ardent wish or desire; a vow; a prayer., A wish, choice, or opinion, of a person or a body of persons, expressed in some received and authorized way; the expression of a wish, desire, will, preference, or choice, in regard to any measure proposed, in which the person voting has an interest in common with others, either in electing a person to office, or in passing laws, rules, regulations, etc.; suffrage., That by means of which will or preference is expressed in elections, or in deciding propositions; voice; a ballot; a ticket; as, a written vote., Expression of judgment or will by a majority; legal decision by some expression of the minds of a number; as, the vote was unanimous; a vote of confidence., Votes, collectively; as, the Tory vote; the labor vote., To express or signify the mind, will, or preference, either viva voce, or by ballot, or by other authorized means, as in electing persons to office, in passing laws, regulations, etc., or in deciding on any proposition in which one has an interest with others., To choose by suffrage; to elec/; as, to vote a candidate into office., To enact, establish, grant, determine, etc., by a formal vote; as, the legislature voted the resolution., To declare by general opinion or common consent, as if by a vote; as, he was voted a bore., To condemn; to devote; to doom. |
| vugg | noun | Alt. of Vugh |
| vugh | noun | A cavity in a lode; — called also vogle. |
| vyce | noun | A kind of clamp with gimlet points for holding a barrel head while the staves are being closed around it. |